Senior transport officials from across the globe convened in northern China's Tianjin Municipality on Monday to enhance international cooperation on sustainable and inclusive transportation systems.
The three-day Global Sustainable Transport Forum (GSTF) is a key international event on sustainable transport, held alongside the 12th Meeting of Transport Ministers from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states. Co-organized by the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center under China's Ministry of Transport and the Tianjin municipal government, the event highlights a shared commitment to fostering eco-friendly and accessible mobility.
The event features two major meetings: the Senior Officials' Meeting of the GSTF and the SCO Transport Ministers' Meeting. These gatherings aim to strengthen regional connectivity, deepen multilateral cooperation, and promote innovative solutions for sustainable transportation.
Marking the "Year of China" in the SCO, the events serve as cornerstone initiatives under China's rotating presidency. Discussions focus on driving pragmatic cooperation in the transport sector, delivering tangible outcomes, and nurturing a closer SCO community with shared ambitions for the future.
The GSTF Senior Officials' Meeting is focused on three major themes: establishing a global framework for sustainable transport development and cooperation, releasing a new global development report, and sharing best practice case studies from across regions. These conversations are expected to lay the groundwork for the next full edition of the Global Sustainable Transport Forum.
Fariz Aliyev, head of Transport Policy Department at Azerbaijan's Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, highlighted the importance of enhanced regional transit networks, citing the ongoing improvements to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or the Middle Corridor, as a key driver of economic development.
"The Middle Corridor is much faster, safer and more reliable right now because through maritime route they could do it in like for example 60 days, but through the Middle Corridor they do it in 15 days," said Aliyev.
Shahbaz Latif Mirza, director of Road Transport at Pakistan's Ministry of Communications, praised recent achievements in China-Pakistan cooperation in areas such as green transit and digital infrastructure, and voiced hope for deeper collaboration going forward.
"As we have pointed out during the meeting, we have taken a number of steps for not only urban mobility but also for inter-urban mobility. So we are in the process. And we are expecting a lot to have a cooperation between Pakistan and China in this area," he said.
On the SCO agenda, member states are also focusing on improving cross-border transport connectivity, strengthening resilient supply chains, and promoting international road transport. China is expected to propose the launch of a new initiative called "Silk Road Stations", small-scale service hubs for cross-border truck drivers, offering warm meals, hot showers, and safe rest facilities.
Over the past year, China has expanded its efforts to shape global transport solutions, promoting green and digital transformation, upgrading public transit systems, and enhancing safety and sustainability standards. The current series of meetings in Tianjin form an important step toward fulfilling those goals on a broader, international scale.
Global officials convene in Tianjin to advance sustainable transport solutions
An industry observer said that 2026 is poised to be a "year of sequels and cultural stories" in global animation, following a strong 2025 where such films dominated box offices worldwide.
With heavyweights like Toy Story 5, Minions 3, and China's perennial favorite Boonie Bears set for release, along with culturally rooted productions such as The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang, the coming months are expected to draw large audiences and reinforce animation's central role in cinema.
This optimism is built on a solid foundation from the previous year.
Looking back at China's film market in 2025, animated features emerged as a powerful driving force. Four of the year's top 10 highest-grossing films were animations, three of which were domestic productions.
Total animation revenue exceeded 25 billion yuan (around 3.58 billion U.S. dollars), capturing nearly 50 percent of the annual box office. As the new year unfolds, the animation sector continues to shine with promising highlights.
A key trend driving this momentum is the surge of sequels from major franchises.
"One notable trend is the abundance of sequels to classic animated films, particularly from Hollywood. Several iconic series are releasing new installments, making 2026 a year of animated sequels. Given their strong IP foundation, these sequels are expected to attract more audiences' attention and achieve solid box office results," said Hu Jianli, secretary general of the Chinese Film Critics Society.
Alongside these international sequels, domestic animation IPs are also deepening their influence and expanding their reach. The annual Boonie Bears series will welcome its latest installment, while the popular TV series The Immortal Ascension is set for its big-screen debut.
"It's fair to say that the Boonie Bears series has maintained the most consistent quality among domestic animated film franchises over the years. Its expansion from television to movies, merchandise, and theme parks represents a fully developed industrial chain, greatly strengthening the IP's presence in the public consciousness. As for The Immortal Ascension, it's the first time that the animation IP is adapted for the big screen, which naturally generates exceptional attention—especially following the successful live-action web series last year. If this first animated film adaptation succeeds, it has the potential to become a major film IP in its own right," said Hu.
Beyond the reliance on established franchises, another significant creative trend is the growing number of animated films drawing inspiration from China's rich classical literature and historical epics. This approach aims to connect with audiences through deeply rooted cultural narratives.
A leading example is a prominent Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation's upcoming "The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang", which dramatizes the early power struggles from the famed historical period.
"We are seeing a clear increase in animated films adapted from classic Chinese novels and myths. Light Chaser Animation Studios' 'New Culture Series' has performed exceptionally well in our animated film market—for example, 30,000 Miles from Changan earned over 1.8 billion yuan (around 257.98 million U.S. dollars) at the box office. This series has truly succeeded in creatively transforming and innovatively developing China's outstanding traditional culture for the big screen, while also resonating emotionally with today's young audiences through its storytelling and character adaptations," said Hu.
Beyond sequels and adaptations rooted in traditional culture, original animated films are also carving out their space with unique concepts and distinctive styles, showcasing further creative possibilities.
Titles such as Arco, a 2025 animated science-fantasy film, and Pixar's Hoppers exemplify this trend of innovation.
"I believe animated films will remain a major force in the global box office in 2026. The worldwide top-grossing film of 2024 was Inside Out 2, and in 2025 it was China's Ne Zha 2. So I'm confident that animated films will once again rank among the highest-grossing releases globally this year," Hu said.
Animated films set to dominate 2026 global box office with strong lineup
